Why you shouldn’t miss out on Reykjavik’s hot pools
Why you shouldn’t miss out on Reykjavik’s hot pools
The Blue Lagoon makes all the headlines and features on all promotional photos of Iceland — but as any local will tell you, it’s a tourist trap. I’m not saying it’s not a fantastic place where you can have a great day — what I’m saying is that you can get an authentic experience in a hot pool in Reykjavik for a small fraction of the price. Locals love their hot pools, and there’s a…
A day in Birmingham for Nature Lovers: Harborne, Edgbaston Reservoir, and Sandwell
Birmingham is known mostly for its industrial landscape and bustling economy — let’s face it, it’s not really the nicest of places. But Birmingham also has its well-kept secrets, especially for nature lovers. We set out from the quiet Harborne to explore the Sandwell Valley RSPB, keeping our path as green as possible, and walking on foot. It was long and tiring walk, but it was definitely worth it. Even just parts of this walk…
Tintern Abbey – The hidden jewel in Wales
Deep in the rural countryside of the UK, on the Welsh bank of the river Wye, time forgot how to move forward. Everything is green, people smile and are always in the mood for a talk, and even the river seems in no rush to get to the sea, meandering along the green foothills. It’s here that you can find one of the most spectacular abbeys in Europe, even though it’s been abandoned for many…
Nottingham, one of England’s best-kept secrets
A specific name probably pops to mind when thinking of Nottingham: Robin Hood. But this vibrant city has much more to offer than a centuries-old legend. With a blooming University and a chic, elegant spirit, Nottingham blends history with modernism and is without a doubt one of the hidden gems of England. Contents1 A well-kept secret2 The (Robin) elephant in the room3 Around the hill4 Quality food, quality drinks5 For animal lovers6 A walk in…
Enjoy the Big Ben while you can – it’s going to go silent for a few years
The Big Ben is England’s most memorable landmark, and one of the best ones in the world. Unfortunately though, travelers will only be able to fully enjoy it until 2017 and after 2020 – as scaffolding and maintenance works are scheduled. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock in London’s Palace of Westminster. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, establishing its status…
The smaller jewels of Portugal: Coimbra, Evora, Aveiro and Braga
Portugal is well known for its amazing beaches in the Algarve – most people visit the country in the summer to enjoy the Sun and the ocean. Also, the big cities (Porto and Lisbon) take the lion’s share when it comes to visitors. But that doesn’t mean that other cities aren’t just as beautiful! Here, I’ll be sharing with you some of Portugal’s best kept secrets – lovely small cities that you’ll certainly enjoy visiting….
Picture of the Week: Monastic Houses
In this bedazzling shot, Jing Wei captured monastic dormitories on a mountain that’s home to the Seda Larung Wuming Tibetan Buddhist Institute in China’s Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The monastery is the world’s largest Tibetan Buddhist academy, with tens of thousands of male and female attendees. According to Your Shot member Jing Wei, the impressive site is worth visiting “to experience the peculiar landscapes and local life of the people there.” If you ever get to…
Cities in the clouds – a different view high above the ground
When we travel, we generally see things from ground level, but this selection of pics will do something different – it will carry you high in the sky and see things in a different light, from above. ……
Reed Flute – The Rainbow Cave That Changes Colors
The Reed Flute Cave in China is a landmark attraction in Guilin, Guangxi. It’s an old natural limestone cave (dated at about 180 million years), filled with a large number of spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Photo by Dennis Jarvis. Many of the formations in the cave have been compared to recognisable shapes of mythological creatures and natural images, and the Chinese have given each of them a poetic name. For…
Portuguese organization brings graffiti closer to the elderly in Lisbon
When I visited Lisbon, a city known for its bohemian atmosphere, lovely beaches and hot nightlife, I didn’t imagine I’d be wandering the streets looking for urban art – but that’s exactly what happened. Lisbon is just bustling with creative graffitis in all neighborhoods, depicting everything from novel characters to passionate love scenes. Naturally, the city is also filled with crap graffiti.Furthermore, for most people, this type of art is only reserved for the young. LATA 65 wants…